At T-shoppe online fitness store, we believe in the holistic benefits of exercise. Our range of fitness health clothing is designed to encourage and facilitate an active lifestyle. We understand that while physical health is essential, mental well-being is equally crucial.
Studies have shown that children perform better academically after a session of physical activity. The benefits of exercise on cognitive abilities such as attention, memory, and task performance are not limited to children. Regular physical activity can also help older adults ward off cognitive decline, including conditions like dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
With the global population of people over 65 years of age on the rise, the World Health Organization predicts that almost 82 million individuals will be living with dementia by 2030. Furthermore, many more will experience mild memory loss that can impact their daily lives. In the absence of a cure for these conditions, prevention becomes paramount. Exercise emerges as a vital tool in this preventive approach.
Regular physical activity contributes to cognitive health in numerous ways. Moderate to vigorous-intensity exercise improves brain function by enhancing blood flow. Regular exercise has also been associated with increased brain volume. A study showed a 2% increase in brain volume among older adults (65+) who exercised regularly for a year, compared to a 1.4% decline in a group of same-aged women who only participated in a stretching program.
Exercise also stimulates the production of specific molecular and biochemical mechanisms that support brain health and reduces inflammation that can accelerate cognitive decline. However, there is ongoing debate about the extent to which these changes can delay the onset of dementia or reduce the risk of mild memory loss.
A team of researchers from Stanford University in California reviewed 17 high-quality studies to gain a better understanding of the effectiveness of exercise in preserving cognitive function. Most studies reported improvements in both long- and short-term memory among subjects who followed a regular exercise routine. More complex cognitive skills, including organization, attention to tasks, planning, multi-tasking, and working memory, also improved.
Interestingly, women seemed to respond better to selective memory tests than men after a six-month prescribed exercise routine. However, the risk of dementia was lowest among older adults with high levels of aerobic fitness, regardless of gender.
Most studies featured aerobic exercises like walking, running, and cycling over resistance training. However, evidence suggests that a varied exercise routine is more effective in stimulating the brain than repeating the same workout multiple times a week.
Unfortunately, the cognitive benefits of exercise seem to fade when physical activity is discontinued. Most follow-up testing among study subjects found that the effects of exercise started diminishing when they stopped being active.
Although it's still unclear whether high-intensity workouts are necessary to reap the memory-boosting effects of exercise, evidence suggests that cognitive health improves irrespective of whether you choose to walk or run.
However, it's important to note that the benefits of exercise on memory seem to be strongest among those with little or no memory loss. This emphasizes the importance of adopting a regular exercise routine before the onset of cognitive decline.
So, if you're middle-aged or beyond, now is the time to incorporate regular physical activity into your lifestyle. Our active wear for fat loss can make this journey more comfortable and enjoyable. You don't need to engage in intense workouts; a daily walk with bouts of brisk walking should suffice. The goal is sustainability over intensity.
Remember, when it comes to cognitive health, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. So why wait for memory loss to set in? Start reaping the cognitive benefits of regular exercise today!
